How much freedom are you willing to give up?

chicagotribune.com
Organized labor recruits in-home caregivers
3,000 who receive Illinois stipends are targeted
By Lisa Black
Tribune reporter
September 3, 2009
Kathy Keith has cared for a son with Down syndrome for 23 years and never dreamed that one day organized labor would consider her a prime candidate for a union card.So she was skeptical when representatives from two of the nation's largest unions began competing for her attention over the last few weeks with unannounced visits to her home, mailings and phone messages promising to fatten her state stipend.The Bartlett resident is among about 3,000 people who receive state funding to assist someone at home with a developmental disability. As a result of an executive order signed by Gov. Pat Quinn in June that allows collective bargaining by "individual providers of home-based support services," unions are now trying to sign them up in an unusual effort to boost membership.The move has left some care providers angry and confused. Many are mothers, fathers or close relatives who are caring for loved ones, advocates say."Are you saying I can go on strike and not wipe my son's rear end?" Keith said, questioning if union membership would pit her interests against her son's.Soon, she and others expect to receive ballots by mail that ask them to join the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) or the Service Employees International Union(SEIU). Or they may vote against representation.An election date has not been scheduled, but union officials say they have met the requirement for a minimum level of interest and are awaiting state approval.Caregivers who vote against joining a union or don't vote at all would get to choose whether to become members if SEIU or AFSCME receives the most votes, but even if they decline to join, they will have to pay "fair share" dues, according to union representatives.Union advocates have promised families that they will find a way to increase their monthly stipends from the state, which change annually because they are based on federal Supplemental Security Income [SSI] payments.Caregivers were told that union dues could be up to 2 percent of the monthly stipend, about $2,000 for Keith before taxes and fees. A SEIU spokeswoman said dues would cost no more than $25 per month.Anders Lindall of AFSCME addressed some of the fears that families have expressed."It is absolutely critical for people to understand that the union would not interfere in any way with their control over hiring or any decisions about the care made for individuals," he said.Some caregivers remain concerned that they will lose the ability to decide what to pay employees for services that can be technical or rudimentary, said Charlotte Cronin, director of the Family Support Network, a non-profit advocacy group."To layer in more layers of bureaucracy is really unfortunate," she said.Critics also question the likelihood that Illinois will find new money for the program, given that more than 18,000 people already are waiting for support services from the Department of Human Services' Division of Developmental Disabilities.The state budget allotment usually is capped, so that if more is spent, fewer people traditionally are enrolled, Cronin said.Pam Harris of Western Springs said she will vote against joining a union and is angry over what she calls "strong-arm tactics." She worries about what will happen if she is forced to join a union as a caregiver for her son, Josh, 20, who has a rare genetic syndrome that causes cognitive and physical disabilities."I need that money for my son," said Harris, who spends $1,400 a month on medical insurance for her son.Organizers showed up at her doorstep on a recent Sunday morning, she said."I am not an employee of the state," Harris said. "I work from my home. I don't want the union in my home. I can Norma Rae with the rest of them."According to a statement from Quinn's office Wednesday, the executive order "gives hardworking, freelance home-based support workers the opportunity to ... engage in collective bargaining."These workers generally don't earn high wages and aren't covered by health insurance, the statement said, adding that they "should not be pressured into any decision and whether they decide to organize is totally up to them."In-home caregivers for people with disabilities and senior citizens have organized in at least a dozen states, including Iowa, Maryland, Michigan and Pennsylvania, according to an SEIU representative.Several years ago, organized labor launched a similar campaign to unionize child-care workers in Illinois. In 2005 SEIU won the right to represent 49,000 in-home providers serving children whose fees were covered by state and federal funds.Then- Gov. Rod Blagojevich ordered the state to negotiate, resulting in a $250 million, 39-month contract with SEIU that raised providers' daily rates an average of 35 percent and brought them health coverage.For that reason, not everyone opposes the effort to organize caregivers.Sue Backstein of Decatur assists daughter Rene, 28, who is developmentally delayed. She would like to see her move into a group home, but there are no openings available nearby."I used to belong to a union for many years when I was working, and I know what they can do for you," said Backstein. "You have got to have somebody standing up for your rights."Another caregiver, James Cothran of Elgin, said his family has reaped the benefits of his wife's membership with a union. Their daughter, Donna, 25, has epilepsy and attends a workshop three days a week with money from the state's monthly stipend.He is pleased with the home support program but wants to ensure that his daughter is well-represented. Currently, Cothran said, he doesn't feel that she has a strong advocate working on her behalf."There is no one with definitive answers on anything," Cothran said. "Nobody seems to be in charge."lblack@tribune.com